Complementary medicine is recognized for its ability to enhance appetite, increase energy, reduce anxiety, decrease pain, and improve sleep, among many other benefits. Acupuncture is among the most frequent types of complementary medicine practiced in the US, and Medicare currently includes back pain as a reimbursable indication for this therapy. Acupuncture-related therapies may enhance efforts at prehabilitation in candidates for major lung resection.
Being considered for major lung surgery
Surgery is not scheduled for at least 2 weeks
Age ≥ 50 years
Able to understand English at a 4th grade level
Allergy to Vaccaria seeds
Medical condition affecting either ear preventing use of auricular acupressure such as eczema, frostbite, sunburn